Vancouver is considering turning parts of Commercial Drive, Point Grey Road and Cornwall Avenue into bikeways as part of the next phase of its quest to reduce bicycle-vehicle conflicts.

With four of the city's 20 highest-crash intersections for cyclists sited on those three roads, it makes sense to look at a variety of ways to make cycling safer, city transportation director Jerry Dobrovolny said Wednesday.

Those alternatives could range from full separated bike lanes similar to the Hornby and Dunsmuir lanes to painted bike lanes and traffic-calming measures. Public consultations will begin this fall.

"I haven't suggested a design, but separation is one of the many options on the table, as well as wider sidewalks and traffic-calming," Dobrovolny said. "We want to see what we can do to improve cycling connections to the Commercial [Drive] area. That will be the discussion with businesses and neighbours."

But the idea is meeting with mixed reviews, with businesses along Commercial Drive and Cornwall St. worried about the impacts.

Robert D'Onofrio, manager of Commercial Drive's Kalena's Shoes, said separated bike lanes wouldn't work on the street because it isn't wide enough and its sidewalks are already too narrow. Painted bike lanes, he said, wouldn't be "as much of a problem, but if they do what they do downtown with separated lanes < we don't have the width for that."

Along Cornwall there are increasing conflicts between cyclists, motorists and pedestrians, but businesses aren't sure there's enough room for a new bike lane.

Tazam Ismail, who runs Empire Drycleaning, says she's seen numerous incidents involving cyclists using sidewalks or knocking mirrors off parked cars. Her daughter was recently knocked down by a bike courier who didn't stop.

"So, bicyclists and I don't see eye-to-eye very much, let's put it that way," she said.

Ismail tapped into the deep well of frustration motorists and businesses have about the city's penchant for putting up bike lanes, saying it's time cyclists also pay some of the cost.

"I feel they are getting a designated lane, they should be liable for insurance or licensing because the taxpayers cough up the money so they should also honor it," she said.

Ismail said while her business has a bus stop out front so there is no on-street parking, all of the restuarant businesses on the two blocks from the end of Burrard Bridge would be affected by a bike lane.

"Where we are situated we are right outside a bus stop so people can't park here anyway, but I've seen many a time guys riding a bike on the sidewalk where we have old women using walkers," she said. "There is not enough parking in the area for the businesses anyway."

Harry Tam, who runs another drycleaning pickup and delivery service said a bike lane will only hurt business but he also worries for cyclists coming off the bridge.

"It is kind of dangerous getting off the bridge because the lane ends all of the sudden and they are in traffic," Tam said. "But we would all be affected by this bike lane."

Meanwhile, former city councillor Peter Ladner called the city's plan for Point Grey Road "fabulous news."

"There are too many dangerous conflicts between cyclists, pedestrians and automobiles on Point Grey Road. I would say most of the neighbours are in favour of traffic-calming, at least, if not a protected lane for cyclists," Ladner said.

The new plans come as city council on Wednesday approved five new bikeway expansions or improvements worth $3 million. Later this month the city will also issue its new Transportation 2040 long-range plan.

The pieces approved Wednesday will see the construction of a one-block separated bike lane on Cambie Street near the Langara Golf Course, the twinning of a pedestrian trail along 58th Avenue, the conversion of a pilot bikeway on 45th Avenue into a permanent one, a north-south bikeway on Dumfries Street, a revised North Arm Trail bikeway and improvements to the Adanac bikeway at Union Street and Hawks Avenue. Most of the projects involve traffic-calming measures such as bump-out curbs, raised pedestrian walkways, traffic circles and new traffic signals. A few involve complete closures of streets. And in the case of 45th Avenue, the city is removing temporary traffic diverters that unexpectedly caused motorists to take a short cut through a school zone.

The projects finish out a $25-million investment in biking infrastructure the Vision Vancouver council approved in 2010. The city has another $10 million in improvements planned between now and 2014 that were approved in the 2011 capital plan.

But now, as the city puts the final touches on its new Transportation 2040 long-range plan, it has signalled even more improvements for cyclists are on the way. Dobrovolny said Wednesday's proposed changes are a reaction to pressure from neighbours along Point Grey Road and Commercial Drive, which are among the busiest cycle routes in the city.

Bikes represent 12 per cent of all vehicle trips on Commercial, and 10 per cent on Point Grey.

That traffic has resulted in an increasing number of accidents involving motorized vehicles. Between 2006 and 2010 there were six accidents on Commercial Drive at each intersection at Broadway and 10th Ave. Over the same period, there were 10 bike-vehicle accidents on Cornwall at the west end of Burrard Bridge, and another six on Cornwall at Cypress Street. Like Commercial Drive, Point Grey Road is bracketed by existing bikeways on three sides.

Although the plan calls for the city to consult the public on options this fall, Commercial Drive's D'Onofrio worries about the impact on traffic if separated lanes are chosen.

"If they have a separate lane for bikes, traffic will come to a standstill," the store manager said.

He added separated bike lanes would also exacerbate what is already the biggest problem facing Commercial Drive merchants < the lack of parking.

But Jordan Allen of Continental Coffee said that as a cyclist he would support improvements that would enhance biking on Commercial Drive.

"Personally, I would love it. But I don't know whether parking would be affected. And I don't know if there is enough room. If they could keep the parking and still incorporate a bike lane, that would be awesome."

Allen said Commercial Drive is a popular route for cyclists. "You see a lot of people on their bikes, especially now with the nice weather."

Over on the west side, the existing Third Avenue bikeway isn't well planned or used, said Ladner, and as a result cyclists prefer to use Point Grey Road.

"You just have to see what people do. Cyclists would rather risk their lives on Point Grey Road than go up to Third Avenue," he said.

This fall the city also expects to move head with the long-planned Helmcken/Comox bikeway in the West End. In 2010 the city said it would entail a series of traffic-calmed areas conducive to walking and cycling.

But the city's Dobrovolny on Wednesday raised the spectre that parts of the streets could be closed or a new separated lane built, based on feedback the city received during public consultations.

"What we will bring out [this fall] is a couple of design options that range from separation to closure to various types of traffic-calming," he said.

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Vancouver bike lanes set to expand with Commercial Drive, Point Grey Road under consideration

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